Thanks Rockwood

[aero3113]

Hey Fred, I received the fire extinguisher you gave me today. As soon as I opened it up I took it to the garage and started polishing it. I am half way through and it looks great,check it out. Let me know when you receive the compass I sent you (I posted a pic of it below)

[Charlie Olson]

Just be aware, when a person cleans up, polishes, etc any time accumulated patinas on an antique object, they lessen it's market value. Case in point was an old Puritan, hidden drawer desk that a guy bought at a garage sale for $150, took it home, stripped off all the old varnish and re-varnished it. The estimated value of the re-varnished desk was $17,000. If the unwitting re-varnisher had left the original surfaces alone, the desk would have brought $96,000 at auction.

[aero3113]

Just be aware, when a person cleans up, polishes, etc any time accumulated patinas on an antique object, they lessen it's market value. Case in point was an old Puritan, hidden drawer desk that a guy bought at a garage sale for $150, took it home, stripped off all the old varnish and re-varnished it. The estimated value of the re-varnished desk was $17,000. If the unwitting re-varnisher had left the original surfaces alone, the desk would have brought $96,000 at auction.

Yes, that is true. This was given to me as a gift from a friend and I have no plans to sell it. I like the look of an old object looking new and taking the time to make it look new. It now has a mirror finish and is going to look great hanging in my garage:D.

Edited June 15, 2010 by aero3113

[Charlie Olson]

Being a multi decade collector of nautical treasure, I have polished just a few of my objects, but then I always sprayed a clear coat over them, so I wouldn't have to keep polishing them. I'll bet it looks great.

[55 Fargo]

Aero, glad you like the fire extinguisher, background history. It was from the famous Royal Alexandra Hotel, built in around 1882 in Winnipeg Canada, this was a Canadian Pacific Railway Hotel, built attached to the Train Station at the corner of Higgins and Main Streets. This hotel was demolished around 1971, my Father was the Demo Company Manager, he stated the compnay made a fortune on this job, from the actual auctions, sales, and final takedown of the 6-8 storeyhotel. It was complete with Ballroooms with massive chandeliers, grand pianos and the like.

Will let you know when the compass arrives...............Fred

Edited June 15, 2010 by Rockwood

[BobT-47P15]

Ah......good to see a mutually successful "horse trade".

It appears you both got nice items.

I can tell Charlie Olson's been watching Antiques Road Show again.

[B-Watson]

Aero, glad you like the fire extinguisher, background history. It was from the famous Royal Alexandra Hotel, built in around 1882 in Winnipeg Canada, this was a Canadian Pacific Railway Hotel, built attached to the Train Station at the corner of Higgins and Main Streets. This hotel was demolished around 1971, my Father was the Demo Company Manager, he stated the compnay made a fortune on this job, from the actual auctions, sales, and final takedown of the 6-8 storeyhotel. It was complete with Ballroooms with massive chandeliers, grand pianos and the like.

Will let you know when the compass arrives...............Fred

Apparently one of the walls of the ballroom is in a rail museum in Cranbrook, BC. If all goes well, I will be attending a Mopar meet there in July and make a visit to the museum. Been through Cranbrook about five times in the past six years and everytime the museum was closed that day.

Amazing how close the design of the Winnipeg CPR station is to the one in Vancouver. (And the same goes for the CN stations!)

By the way, Alexandra was the consort of King Edward VII, son of Queen Victoria. She was very popular in Canada, with many schools, hospitals and hotels named after her. She was not much of a speaker as she had a strong Danish accent, but she was came across as a very friendly person and the public adored her.

Bill

Vancouver, BC

[Charlie Olson]

Ah......good to see a mutually successful "horse trade".

It appears you both got nice items.

I can tell Charlie Olson's been watching Antiques Road Show again.

Close, but the story about the desk was on a local station here on a Good Morning AM type of show. I do like to watch TARS, gets me fired up to go to garage sales looking for that million dollar painting.